Rose Marie Sheahan

STATESBORO—Georgia Southern University honors student Rose Marie Sheahan has been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. Sheahan, an international studies major and University Honors Program student, will use the award for study at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies in Japan.

The Gilman award is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education. Sheahan is the fifth Georgia Southern University student recipient of a U.S. Department of State award in the past two years.

Growing up in rural Springfield, Sheahan had dreamed of traveling to Japan.

“I have always been fascinated with Japan’s culture and language and wanted to learn more about this vastly different society,” said Sheahan.

Departing on March 12, Sheahan will take part in academic programs at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies that focus on Japanese language and culture.

The University Honors Program serves as the campus clearinghouse for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships and is committed to helping prepare all Georgia Southern University students for these awards.

One of the main objectives of the University Honors Program is to provide students with the opportunity to obtain a global perspective.

“Ideally, all of our students would spend a semester or year abroad. I applaud Rose for receiving this prestigious award in order to broaden her educational experience,” said Steven Engel, director of the University Honors Program at Georgia Southern University.

As a requirement of the scholarship, Gilman recipients will also complete a project upon return to their home institution. Sheahan plans to initiate a tutoring program pairing Japanese exchange students with American students at Georgia Southern University.

“I believe this program will not only have a positive impact on the Japanese students, but also on the American students who will learn more about the culture from those who live in Japan,” Sheahan said. She also plans to assist the Center for International Studies with promoting study abroad opportunities, especially to students like herself from rural Georgia.

After graduating from Georgia Southern University, Sheahan plans to teach with the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. JET, an organization that promotes grass-roots international exchange between Japan and other nations, offers positions assisting teachers of English in Japanese public school classrooms.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants for undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad. Such international study is intended to better prepare U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.

Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 116 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement.

The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.